Scots’ Six Nations hopes suffer fresh blow

Scotland’s RBS Six Nations hopes have suffered a further injury blow with the news that No. 8 Josh Strauss will miss the remainder of the championship.

The 30-year-old sustained damage to his kidney in the defeat to France on Sunday.

After completing the match, he was scanned in Paris. Both the scan, and the player, were reviewed back in Edinburgh, where the full extent of the injury was confirmed.

A statement from the Scottish Rugby Union said: “Strauss will now return to his club Glasgow Warriors for further care and a review of the injury will be scheduled in approximately six weeks’ time.”

It is the second major injury blow for coach Vern Cotter in the space of a few days. Captain Greig Laidlaw was also ruled out of the rest of the RBS Six Nations Championship after limping out of the match at the Stade de France with ankle ligament damage.

The Scots return to action when they take on Wales at BT Murrayfield on 25 February.